week 7
1118 words by jle3
My project to improve the world is on underage drinking. Many parents and adolescents do not realize the effects of alcohol and the fines of serving alcohol to minors. Today I will give some facts relating to this issue. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, students that engage in heavy drinking do twice as bad in school than those who do not. This is definitely important because everywhere you go these days to find a job you need education. Unless you want to flip burgers and work minimum wage for the rest of your life then go ahead and let these minors have a drink. Also, according to the same source, twelve percent of teenage girls that engage in heavy drinking have sexual intercourse without any birth controls, while being under the influence. This risk the possibilities of HIV and many other STDs. This also up the rates in teen pregnancy, as you can see consumption of alcohol can lead to other big problems in this society. I haven’t even started talking about minors behaviors under the influence yet either. According to the national institution of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, “A survey focusing on the alcohol-related problems experienced by 4,390 high school seniors and dropouts found that within the preceding year, approximately 80 percent reported either getting “drunk,” binge drinking, or drinking and driving. More than half said that drinking had caused them to feel sick, miss school or work, get arrested, or have a car crash (5).” This is a pretty high percentage, especially the part about drinking and driving under the influence. Not only are these minors risking their lives but also other innocent people’s lives. Usually when one is under the influence they won’t admit that they are drunk, therefore people around them would let them drive home. This is a major problem here, my uncle who was not a minor passed away a few years back due to driving under the influence. If you think about it, for a person that is supposed to be mature and think wisely whether not to drive or not, to actually get in a car accident and risked his life from it to do such a thing. What makes you think that a minor who is immature and do not think wisely won’t follow that same footsteps? Another fact we should look at from the national institution of alcohol abuse and alcoholism is “Alcohol use among adolescents has been associated with considering, planning, attempting, and completing suicide (37-39). In one study, 37 percent of eighth-grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink (40). Research does not indicate whether drinking causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are correlated.” Even though it says here that research didn’t indicate whether the alcohol caused the suicidal behavior, but if you think about it, it can increase the decision to do so. Two years ago, my friend was in a rough period in her life. She always turned to alcohol, unfortunately I was there to help her during her rough times, I was only able to talk to her over the phone. One day she couldn’t take it anymore and she called me crying and talking to me about her problems. She then told me that she is in her car with a bottle of vodka and a gun next to her and she is ready to solve all of her problems. This was the worst thing that ever happened to me, she was like one of my best friends. I seriously didn’t know what to do so I called one of my friends that lived in her area to help her. When my other friend came, he tried to calm her down but couldn’t , she ended up pulling the trigger while I was on the phone. Fortunately , she forgot to load the gun and it didn’t shoot. My friend was 26 when this happened. For her to not even be a minor and made such a bad choice under the influence of alcohol I am sure that a person not of age would do the same if they were in that same situation. Honestly, I believe that she was blessed. If she wasn’t then she would not have survived that action. Not everyone will become that lucky as my friend did, so I really think this problem of underage drinking should stop.
Now that we have discussed the related problems with alcohol, let’s move on to the penalties. According to the house of legislative analysis section, “Selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor, whether by a person licensed to sell alcohol or by a nonlicensed person, is prohibited under the Michigan Liquor Control Code. A violation is a misdemeanor and a person can be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both.” Now would you risk the chance of getting into jail or getting fined for doing something that careless. I know that some places will slowly catch people who are actually providing alcohols to minors and get them fined for it too. Also, from the same source, “Currently, the code specifies that a person who is not a retail liquor licensee or his or her clerk, agent, or employee who knowingly sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor must be fined $1,000 and may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 60 days for a first offense, and must be fined $2,500 and must be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 90 days for a second or subsequent offense and may be ordered to perform community service. The bill would rewrite this provision to instead specify that a person who violated this provision would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and imprisonment for not more than 60 days for a first offense; a second or subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,500 and imprisonment for not more than 90 days, and the person could be ordered to perform community service.” Many people think that oh they will just get fined and if they do get in jail they will be there just for a day or two, but guess what, it’ll be for two whole months. It’ll be like putting you life on hold for two months. Is that really worth your time? I think not.
References
http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org/en/stats/Fct%20Sht-Acdmc%20Prfrmnc.pdf
http://www.dui.com/dui-library/minors
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2001-2002/billanalysis/House/htm/2001-HLA-4035-b.htm